LUXEMBOURG MUSEUM TO CLOSE

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL CLOSE THE MUSEE DU LUXEMBOURG IN PARIS, WHICH SHARES SPACE IN THE LUXEMBOURG PALACE WITH THE FRENCH SENATE, AFTER ITS CURRENT EXHIBITION OF TIFFANY GLASS CLOSES ON 17.JANUARY. THE MOVE WILL CUT 25 FULL-TIME AND 75 PART-TIME POSITIONS. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE FRENCH SENATE DISAGREED WITH MUSEUM MANAGERS ABOUT SHARING PROFITS FROM THE PROJECT WITH SVO, THE PRIVATE COMPANY THAT MANAGES THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM HAS ATTRACTED MORE THAN 5.5 MILLION VISITORS WITH SHOWS COVERING MODIGLIANI, BOTTICELLI, AND SELECTIONS FROM THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION OF WASHINGTON DC SINCE IT WAS TURNED OVER TO SVO. THE SUDDEN CLOSURE OF THE MUSEUM MEANS THAT TWO PLANNED EXHIBITIONS, ONE ENTITLED 'BOATS AND THE IMPRESSIONISTS', HAVE BEEN CANCELED.